In 1st Corinthians 5 we read, "It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not even exist among the Gentiles, that someone has his fathers wife. You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst.
"For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present. In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
"Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."
Wow... it is such a deep bit of scripture and there is a LOT to absorb. Most importantly, though, this speaks to the judgement of our brothers and sisters in Christ after they have refused assistance, prayer, and council. If they have refused help and continue to sin (whether it be adultery, drunkenness, or anything else that is sinful in the eyes of God) then they "must be removed from your midst". There is no way to argue against that, but some of us try to say that if we are loving our brothers and sisters, we would never ask them to leave. It's difficult, to be sure, but very possible. Trust that the Lord will return them to us changed by trials they will go through. I can speak as one who has had experience in this, having gone through alcoholism and drug use after giving my life to Christ. I went through a very rough time, but am a much stronger, more faithful Christian because of those trials. A wet match cannot catch fire (the water being sin, and the fire being a passion for God, full of the Holy Spirit).
So, rather than calling this judgement, I think of it as discernment. Rather than being harmful, damaging, or rude, use discernment to recognize a problem developing. If someone becomes distant or begins to lose enjoyment in the fellowship of the church or in the worship of the Lord, discover the reason why and help them. Sometimes it's drugs, alcohol, depression, or abuse. As a brother and sister of this person in Christ, we are actually showing love by using discernment to help them with their problem.
So, this ends this two part segment on Judgement. Thank you for bearing with me as I brought this message to you, I know that it is a difficult one to hear. It is biblical, though. If you have any questions/comments/concerns, please comment below, message me on facebook, or send me an email.
All these things I say are in the spirit of love and unity as the body of Christ. God bless you all!
Jimmy
p.s. Thank you for helping me organize these thoughts in your own little ways, Stephen and Mike.
"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®,
Copyright© 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977,
1995 by The LockmanFoundation. Used by permission.
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